Tooele County Health Department first in Utah to receive national accreditation

It is one of the first health departments in the nation and the first in Utah to earn the recognition, which follows a rigorous examination process involving the Virginia-based, national Public Health Department Accreditation Board . The national standards "foster effectiveness and promote continuous quality improvement," said Tooele County health officer Myron Bateman. He said the process, which began in 2009, has helped "to ensure that the programs and services we provide are as responsive as possible to the needs of our community." With help from residents and community leaders, department officials identified several areas of emphasis. In order to improve obesity and diabetes rates, the county is working on providing better access to walking trails and access to health care. Bateman said the Utah Transit Authority now offers two bus routes to help people in both the Grantsville and Tooele communities get to various doctor offices. <br> Tooele County Health Department first in Utah to receive national accreditation